Brexit: EU, Britain to start trade talks next week

Britain and the European Union will start talks next week on their future trade relationship after Brexit, according to diplomats.

Britain will leave the EU next March and enjoy a status-quo transition until the end of 2020, according to the current plan.

Then, a new relationship between the sides would kick in, which negotiators from London and the EU will start discussing for the first time in Brussels on Monday.

The other 27 EU leaders adopted their joint stance for the trade talks last month. Although it has been informally shared with London, one diplomat said the EU's position would be formally presented to the British negotiators next week.

"The UK has had a couple of weeks to reflect on that, analyse that. So for next week I'd hope and expect them to come tell us what they think, tell us more about how the UK sees the future relationship," another diplomat said.

Diplomats said, however, that there has been no substantial progress on the Irish border conundrum in continued talks since the March EU summit, where British Prime Minister Theresa May also secured the 21-month transition phase after Brexit.